Scary close calls from my ride today.

[EthioKnight]

...well, the vid will speak for itself, but I'll say this...I've been beating myself up the whole day for being a bit reckless just so I could avoid getting wet...it's freaking inexcusable and I could have ended up seriously fvcked up or seriously fvcking up my baby...or both...so, sympathies will be very much appreciated 'cause I doubt any criticism you guys can throw will trump the mental abuse I've been inflicting upon myself

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Alex]

I'm not sure what you want to hear. You're riding like a fool. You're aiming for a mistake or two per year. Not 2 or 3 per minute.

I enjoy your posting style on the board, but you're not going to be a happy motorcyclist long-term unless the trajectory changes.

[Jiggles]

Lean more

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Lean more

I know dude...but by the time I caught sight of that van, I couldn't tell which lane he was on...so I could have leaned right smack into him...my mistake was not slowing down!
@Alex...I read you loud and clear bruh, but don't judge my riding based solely on this flick. I'm usually the grandma of my group, and not only because I ride a 250 lol

[Jiggles]

Yeesh, aren't you glad you ride a 250?

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Yeesh, aren't you glad you ride a 250?

mos definitely man...not ready/mature for a SS...not by a long shot

[Jiggles]

I rode the 1000 2up through twisties today. It was scary but fun

I also went slower than an SUV

[fatestkid]

I'm glad you're okay, I don't have any criticism. Tell me more about your dash!!

[Old Lemon]

what camera do you use?

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by fatestkid

I'm glad you're okay, I don't have any criticism. Tell me more about your dash!!

tnx bud It's the Koso RX-2...it's well worth the dough

Originally Posted by Old Lemon

what camera do you use?

GoPro baby

[ai4px]

Thanks for posting... maybe someone will see your video clip and recognize when they are getting into the same situation. Everyone makes mistakes... but be careful that you don't let the mistake lead you headlong into a 2nd (like you did lol). The safety stuff they teach us at work has started soaking in after all these years... it's not enough to think ahead about avoiding an accident, but how will you respond? What will your options be? Are those options more dangerous than the thing you are trying to avoid? Sure, you can't anticipate everything, but running through scenarios in your head when idle is the mental equivalent of practicing braking with hand and foot... it's a perishable skill and you have got to be keen when the time counts.

Just to throw myself on my own sword so you won't feel so bad, I was fiddling with my GPS a couple of weeks ago and looked up just in time to NOT stop for a 4 way stop. I blew right through it... very embarrassed and very lucky I was not hurt.

[folky15]

Impending storms can make us do silly things. The other day I got myself into a terrible position by trying to get home before the rain hit. Being on the Chicago lakefront highway during that storm was the most scared I've been on the bike so far. best to be safe and late i guess.

[EthioKnight]

tnx guys...we all make mistakes...learning from and avoiding them is the hard part...I'll try to keep a level head next time I see clouds
@ai4px, thanks for sharing your "oh crap" moment, me feel beta now

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

...sympathies will be very much appreciated 'cause I doubt any criticism you guys can throw will trump the mental abuse I've been inflicting upon myself

No reason to feel so bad; every bad experience helps making you a better rider, unless you choose not to learn from it.

Something similar happened to me the first time that I rode a bike with sidecar; the thing started rolling over while taking a fast right turn and I ended up facing oncoming traffic.

Your mistake: making running from the storm your priority.

Your positive reaction: braking over a straight line (you could have panicked and locked that front wheel while turning).

Riding is serious business, and it must be our only priority while doing it.

At the level of skill and experience that you have now, you should feel at easy riding in the rain and in any other adverse condition.

Read this article:
http://forums.superbikeschool.com/in...?showtopic=978

[dfox]

in the moment, we all do different things, but I think my gut reaction as you neared the end of that turn, would be to keep leaning and go to the right of the truck, rather than stop. at least that's what my initial thought was, and what I expected to see you do.

[cuong-nutz]

That right there is probably riding at 90%. The 10% is what kept you from wrecking. There's a lot involved when you are riding that you take for granted until you freak out. Pull over and recollect yourself next time.

[Old Lemon]

Originally Posted by Motofool

(you could have panicked and locked that front wheel while turning).

Like meeeeeeeeeeeeee

and is the camera mounted on the chin or on top of your helmet. Looks like on top but im not entirely sure

[Stingray1000]

Ethio bro I've scolded ya on not following road laws. Now I can honestly say your head is NOT on swivel enough when you're riding, you need to fix that. Would hate to stop seeing you post on here for a really bad reason...... I kinda like you (Love would've been for Jiggles LOL)

[massacremasses]

-__-

rain wont hurt your bike man! dont ride like a dummy! <3

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by cuong-nutz

... Pull over and recollect yourself next time.

shoulda done that...was a bit shaky on the ride home. tnx

Originally Posted by Old Lemon

and is the camera mounted on the chin or on top of your helmet. Looks like on top but im not entirely sure

It's on the top, using an adhesive mount.

Originally Posted by Stingray1000

Ethio bro I've scolded ya on not following road laws. Now I can honestly say your head is NOT on swivel enough when you're riding, you need to fix that. Would hate to stop seeing you post on here for a really bad reason...... I kinda like you (Love would've been for Jiggles LOL)

Thanks bud! I like you too lol and yeah, advice noted

[R1Chronicles]

Show that video to your parents!

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by R1Chronicles

Show that video to your parents!

haha! you sick sick man lol...I already have enough resistance as it is, especially from mom...letting her watch this probably would lead to an all out war, or maybe a health crisis...neither of which I want. lol

[Old Lemon]

my mom is nagging me to give her the link to my crash so she can show her friends

[R1Chronicles]

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

haha! you sick sick man lol...I already have enough resistance as it is, especially from mom...letting her watch this probably would lead to an all out war, or maybe a health crisis...neither of which I want. lol

I'm not going to be as nice as other people in this thread after watching that video, what did you do wrong? (be honest with yourself, Imo it's not good enough just saying I *$%#'ed up) I've got a big long list of things after watching that video but one of them is the most important.

PS, I'm a very aggressive rider and really don't consider speeding a sin.

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by R1Chronicles

I'm not going to be as nice as other people in this thread after watching that video, what did you do wrong? (be honest with yourself, Imo it's not good enough just saying I *$%#'ed up) I've got a big long list of things after watching that video but one of them is the most important.

PS, I'm a very aggressive rider and really don't consider speeding a sin.

Not slowing down enough to yield for the turn is my biggest mistake...it resulted in all that followed. What do you mean you have a "big long list"...I doubt you'll have more than three things to chew me on

[Alex]

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

I doubt you'll have more than three things to chew me on

You are both overconfident and incorrect.

[R1Chronicles]

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

Not slowing down enough to yield for the turn is my biggest mistake...it resulted in all that followed. What do you mean you have a "big long list"...I doubt you'll have more than three things to chew me on

The biggest one is your over driving your skill level. The only reason I being picky on this is that it's no fun attending funerals for this reason. I've now had to on a few occasions for the that reason, it's just no fun.

A lot of people aren't going to like the next tip, if your riding aggressive you have to watch your environment in every aspect ready to use whatever piece of asphalt that is free. My number one rule on a bike is that your always invisible, ride like it.

Now you may think I'm being unfair, but when I was younger I had to force myself to park my bike for a few years so I know how to be honest with myself (I spent most of my time on one wheel, and speed limits didn't mean much to me then).

I've spent a lot of time in hospitals and learned the hard way, I still play hard but I try do it in the safest manor possible these days but I never surpass my riding level.

I'm going to private msg you a few of videos of mine so you don't think I'm talking out my arse.

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by Alex

You are both overconfident and incorrect.

come on dude!...It's not like I was speeding, popping wheelies, lane splitting or similar reckless ish like that...I was just too preoccupied with something as insignificant as rain!

[EthioKnight]

Originally Posted by R1Chronicles

The biggest one is your over driving your skill level. The only reason I being picky on this is that it's no fun attending funerals for this reason. I've now had to on a few occasions for the that reason, it's just no fun.

A lot of people aren't going to like the next tip, if your riding aggressive you have to watch your environment in every aspect ready to use whatever piece of asphalt that is free. My number one rule on a bike is that your always invisible, ride like it.

Now you may think I'm being unfair, but when I was younger I had to force myself to park my bike for a few years so I know how to be honest with myself (I spent most of my time on one wheel, and speed limits didn't mean much to me then).

I've spent a lot of time in hospitals and learned the hard way, I still play hard but I try do it in the safest manor possible these days but I never surpass my riding level.

I'm going to private msg you a few of videos of mine so you don't think I'm talking out my arse.

I understand bro...but I was neither speeding nor riding aggressively...the fastest I was traveling was 50mph at most and I surely could have taken that corner, it was my disregard for traffic rules (yield at corner) and my preoccupation with the freaking clouds that got me into ..well, what could have been deep sh!t. would love to see you riding maniacally though btw

[nycsteve]

After the backlash you've got here, I would hate to post up some of my vids...

[kaiserz]

I'm glad you learned your lesson, I'm happy that you did not have to suffer from the consequence that could have got you from riding that way. I'm pretty sure now that you've change how you ride.

Like I always say "we learn from our mistakes" or other people's mistakes. (We have to, specially if you're on a motorbike)

I've learned a couple of lessons too in my riding career, and a couple of them taught me to never ride more than 70% of my ability, heck even 50% sometimes so I can leave room for errors that may occur. and until now I know that I'm still learning stuff, like the other day I tried to beat the light on a 25mph street, I didn't speed or anything, but my concentration was on the stop light if I can beat it or not(I just woke up and, I was late for church) Instead of stopping like I normally do, I didn't. I crossed the light in time, and right there where I got my concentration back, I realized that there was a car on the opposite side who wants to make a left turn(And probably wants to beat the light too). We all know that one of the most dangerous place on the street, is the "intersection" where cagers don't normally see an on coming motorcyclist when they're gpnna turn left. I have to say I'm blessed, and that it reminded me that the street really is a dangerous place. So make sure to watch out for on coming cagers that wants to turn left. I usually do the "wobble" if I know I'm approaching one.

I also got this one. On a turn that you don't know, never go higher than 50% of your abilities cause it might just bite your ass. I know for sure that from crash statistics that the leading reason is when a motorcyclist enters a turn too fast and doesn't make it.



ME
Yellow line that I've crossed
On coming car

I've never been to this turn before when I took it. I was coming from 15 going into sycolin rd, as you can see the road to sycolin decrease a lot, and it almost took me. I have to say I handled it calmly, I scraped my pegs(which I try to avoid since I had my kick stand getting caught accident I've only scraped my pegs 2 times last year since then)but I did still crossed the yellow line a lil bit, and let me tell you I know I was blessed because If I took that turn 10 seconds less I know I would hit an oncoming car. I was also blessed because there was no traffic on the other lane also, cause usually there's a huge train of cars on that side of the road.

So please, the street is a very dangerous place to play. If you guys want to play we can go to the track. Ride safe guys.

[Havok]

Should have just manned up turned the bars and hit the gas, Hold the turn a bit longer so you exited out near the curb nice and tight. you would have hit the intersection before the truck.



But yea, you kind of ride like an idiot, Overconfidence looked like it crept in a bit.

[akima]

Originally Posted by EthioKnight

come on dude!...It's not like I was speeding, popping wheelies, lane splitting or similar reckless ish like that...I was just too preoccupied with something as insignificant as rain!

I'm pretty sure Alex was just being playful.

Besides... all 3 of you are over confident and incorrect

[Kevin2109]

[leed]

Just relax. IMO having calm nerves will better your skills and reactions 10 fold.

[str8t six]

you should have taken knollwood dr, then everything would have been avoided, even the rain possibly

[Malicious Logic]

Lol, you were trying to avoid the rain but from the looks of it, you still took a road that was heading towards the storm, even if it was a less direct route. Also noticed that you shift pretty early but guess to each his own. You probably could've easily thrown another downshift or two in and gotten down to a safe and appropriate entry speed for that turn. Don't be afraid of the higher rpm range. Other than that, don't really have any scolding, lol. Was it stupid? Yeah, but I think better riding on your part could've kept it in check and less in the realm of suicide.

[CZroe]

This thread has a whole new meaning in light of what happened six days ago. I'm not saying that because I believe that the concerns expressed here apply to the incident (the person supposedly rear-ended him), but it is strangely upsetting to see these concerns expressed before the incident.

You are in my prayers, @EthioKnight.

Originally Posted by Malicious Logic

Lol, you were trying to avoid the rain but from the looks of it, you still took a road that was heading towards the storm, even if it was a less direct route. Also noticed that you shift pretty early but guess to each his own. You probably could've easily thrown another downshift or two in and gotten down to a safe and appropriate entry speed for that turn. Don't be afraid of the higher rpm range. Other than that, don't really have any scolding, lol. Was it stupid? Yeah, but I think better riding on your part could've kept it in check and less in the realm of suicide.

IOW, he decided to go to a destination rather than go for a ride, in hopes that he would get there before the rain started. He wasn't trying to run away from it!

[Motofool]

“It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. Be the change that you wish to see in the world. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

[aShifty]

Originally Posted by Motofool

“It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. Be the change that you wish to see in the world. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

you have some amazing quotes.